Miller Campaign: Absentee Ballots Breaking for Joe

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From the Joe Miller Campaign website:

As of this posting, with about 27,000 absentee ballots counted, voters have added over 2100 net votes to Joe Miller.

That leaves approximately 11,333 votes between Joe Miller and “Write-In” ballots.

There are about 12,400 absentee ballots yet to be counted, as well as more than 12,200 “questioned” ballots to be counted, starting Friday.

Below is the Miller campaign’s predictions for Joe Miller’s “Path to Victory” (click to see full size):

Stay tuned to this website for updates.

- JP

Joe Miller gains over 900 votes in first absentee count

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In the first day of absentee ballot counting in Alaska, Joe Miller has narrowed Sen. Lisa Murkowski's lead by about 900 votes.

The Division of Elections has put out a big statewide update, which includes the districts reported already as well as new ones (will take a little time to figure out just which ones.)

The bottom line in the update is that the state is now reporting that it's counted over 8,000 absentee and early votes today.

The write-ins lead Joe Miller by 12,525 votes. That represents a 914 vote gain for Miller in today's count of absentee and early votes. The write-in lead was 13,439 the start of the day.

[More]

The Miller campaign says there are roughly 37,000 absentee ballots still outstanding.

- JP

Joe MIller: This race is not done

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Joe Miller on 'The Today Show' Friday said the Senate race in Alaska is far from over, and -- yes -- Sarah Palin would be a good presidential candidate:


- JP

Jim DeMint: Joe Miller Needs Our Help

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Via the Senate Conservatives Fund website:

Dear Fellow Conservative:

Joe Miller, the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in Alaska, needs our help. He's in the race of his life against Senator Lisa Murkowski who ran as a independent write-in candidate after losing the Republican primary.

With the race still too close to call, there are still tens of thousands of ballots that haven't been counted and there will be a recount to verify the integrity of the write-in ballots.

Joe Miller can win this race but he's up against a well-financed legal team that is working for Lisa Murkowski. They will be fighting to bend the law in Alaska, which requires write-in ballots to accurately state the candidate's name.

Joe Miller needs our immediate help.

The costs associated with maintaining the integrity of this election could be very high, especially if the legal battles go on for a while. Joe does not have the support of the special interests in Washington and he cannot rely on national Republicans to do everything that's needed to defend him.

Joe Miller needs the help of freedom-loving Americans who recognize the importance of winning this race. Joe Miller will stand up to the big spenders in both political parties and help stop the massive spending, bailouts, and debt that threaten our future.

Please make a contribution to the Joe Miller Recount Fund today.

This is a separate committee that has separate contribution limits. Individuals may contribute up to $2,400 to the Joe Miller Recount Fund even if they made contributions to his campaign before November 2nd.

Thank you for everything you have done to support the principles of freedom. Thank you in advance for supporting Joe Miller in this critical battle.

Sincerely,


Jim DeMint
United States Senator
Chairman, Senate Conservatives Fund

Donations can be made here.

- JP

KTVA sacks two producers over 'Phonegate' (Updated)

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Lacey Halpern of Fox News reports that two KTVA producers involved in the "Phonegate" scandal in Alaska have been fired:

The former employees of the CBS affiliate in Anchorage left an accidental voicemail for an aide to GOP Senate candidate Joe Miller, in which they joked about the possibility of reporting on the appearance of sex offenders at a Miller rally.

KTVA's General Manager released this statement on the station's web site:

Anchorage, Alaska, (11/02/10) - KTVA today released findings of its internal assessment of allegations that the "news director for CBS Anchorage affiliate KTVA, along with assignment editor Nick McDermott, and other reporters, openly discussed creating, if not fabricating, two stories about Republican nominee for U.S. Senate, Joe Miller," as alleged by the Miller campaign. KTVA states that its review included multiple staff interviews, a review of that day's actual news coverage and a forensic transcript of the recorded audio conversation.

General Manager Jerry Bever stated, "As we worked through this fact-finding process we noted that actual story assignments for that day had already been decided before the recorded conversation took place. At no time did any of the elements associated with the recorded comments become part of any coverage or broadcast. The recorded conversation in question specifically involved how that evening's Miller rally might be promoted and the ensuing dialogue went down hill from there. These particular comments were not in line with KTVA standards."

As a result of this incident, the two producers involved in the recorded conversation are no longer with the station. As a matter of policy KTVA did not identify the staff members involved, however KTVA clarified that neither the News Director, Assignment Editor Nick McDermott nor any other KTVA reporters were involved in the recorded conversation as previously reported by the Miller campaign.

KTVA believes that its actual broadcast coverage of Miller has been sound and fair during this election cycle and the history of our coverage speaks for itself. Bever noted that in the coverage of this issue, FOX News correspondent Dan Springer reported that in a review of recent Miller coverage by KTVA, Fox News could not find any articles or stories that showed any obvious bias or hit pieces against Joe Miller.

KTVA has contacted the Miller campaign to set up a meeting to review its findings.

Update: But that's not the whole story, not by a long shot. Ed Morrissey explains.

- JP

More Quote of the Day Honorable Mention, Part 144

Special "Corrupt Bastards in Denial" Edition
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Selwyn Duke at American Thinker:

"I can't say I'm surprised, as this is par for the course for the Shill Media. By rights, every one of these 'reporters' should be fired; they are guilty of gross journalistic misconduct. But I won't be any more surprised when that doesn't happen than I am by the behavior itself. They are, quite simply, evil."

Jennifer at Cubachi:

"Basically, KTVA told us that we’re imagining things out of thin air. Although the audio clearly indicates the media have conspired to ruin Miller’s reputation, they claim they were discussing 'what-if scenarios.' Yeah, the what-if scenarios are how to bring the downfall of the political career of an innocent veteran who is running for office to save future generations from onerous debt. This is beyond the pale. I hope Alaskans hold this station accountable, and the establishment republicans accountable for what is going on to Joe Miller. Alaskans, please vote in Joe Miller and end this culture of corruption."

Gene S at Daily Pundit:

"This is the new Standard of Journalism?"

Bookworm at Bookworm Room:

"There a certain Keystone Kops quality to the reporter’s conduct. Yes, they plotted something truly foul, but they did so with such ineptitude they got caught and publicly humiliated. Now, to add to the slapstick quality of the whole thing, they’re contending that they were just strategizing possible things that might actually happen, rather than trying to find a child molester to attach to the Miller campaign. The only difference between these yahoos and the Kops, is that the Kops were innocent and funny. These guys and gals, despite sharing the stupidity, are as malevolent as anyone you’ll find within this nation’s borders."

Scared Monkeys:

"The MSM was caught red handed in a conversation that was never intended to be heard and they have no explanation... Remember, the conversation would have occurred right after they got off the phone with the Miller campaign."

Mustang at Social Sense:

"Recorded statements of 'journalists' working for CBS affiliate KTVA included this gem: 'We know that out of all the people that will show up tonight, at least one of them will be a registered sex offender.' The tape also reveals individuals discussing the newsworthiness of a Rand Paul moment — referencing the incident involving George Soros plant Lauren Valle. KTVA spokesman naturally claimed that while the incident did happen, the Joe Miller campaign has taken this entire incident out of context. Right. I have a bridge for sale, too."

J.M. Waters:

"This excuse KTVA General Manager Jerry Bever goes on to give... does not pass the smell test..."

D. B. Light at Light Seeking Light:

"'Corrupt bastards' -- that's what Sarah called the creeps at Alaska CBS affiliate KTVA, who were conspiring to embarrass Republican senatorial candidate Joe Miller. She suggested that the lack of journalistic integrity and outrageous bias displayed in the incident were generalized throughout the MSM. I think she's right."

Bungalow Bill at BBCW:

"Joe Miller is perhaps the most sound political thinker running for office in this year's election. His message is as close to the founders that I have heard in a long time. It's no wonder the media wants to beat him up as he speaks Jeffersonian ideas."

The Pagan Temple:

"It's clear from hearing the audio and reading the transcript, these reporters certainly weren't trying to help Joe Miller, they were hoping to damage him. Yet, these are reporters, for a CBS affiliate station, people who are supposed to strive for fairness and accuracy in their reportage, for balance, whatever their private personal preferences. They weren't planning an opinion piece for an editorial. They were actually trying to manipulate the news, if not outright planning to create news out of whole cloth... Does anybody seriously wonder why conservatives hate the main stream media?"

Dan Riehl at Big Journalism:

"Perhaps [HuffPo's Sam Stein] plans on covering a Republican campaign event... and was off rifling through lists of potential sex offenders who just might happen to show up."

Socrates at RedState.com:

"KTVA General Manager Jerry Bever tries to spin [the] problem away, issuing a press release and smiling smugly... 'Have we had internal discussions about the level of professionalism we need to bring to our conversations, internally and externally? Of course we have, this is a lesson to learn from.' ... In other words, 'We’ve told our staff not to get caught.' Because unless the newsroom conversation was substantially as the Miller campaign and commons sense indicate, why was there any need for internal discussions on the level of professionalism?"

Connie Hair at Human Events:

"The transcript of the call does not line up with KTVA's explanation... Is anyone actually surprised that conservative candidates don't want to speak to the so-called mainstream media?"

Steve Gilbert at Sweetness & Light:

"‘KTVA general manager Jerry Bever issued a statement Sunday. In it, he called the voice mail *unfortunate* but disagreed with the Miller’s campaign’s interpretation of events.’ If the Miller interpretation is wrong, then exactly what is ‘unfortunate’ about the comments? ... ‘Bever said the station has discussed the matter internally. He said *this is a lesson to learn from.*’ Yes, the lesson they will learn is ‘be more subtle.’ And, more importantly, ‘don’t get caught.’ ... Ms. Palin was perhaps being too kind to call them ‘bastards.’"

Ron Devito at It's Miller Time in Alaska:

"RINO Lisa Murkowski and her media allies continue their tricknology campaign against Joe Miller."

- JP

Miller up by 7 in new poll; Murkowski throws GOP under the bus (or not)

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Public Policy Polling isn't the most reliable of pollsters, but they're definitely a step or two up from the local polling outfits in Anchorage that we've been hearing from lately. PPP's latest survey taken in Alaska has Joe Miller at 37 percent, with what's-her-name and the Democrat tied at 30 percent:

It appears that Murkowski will lose this race. There are 2 main reasons for that. The first is that she retained little goodwill from Republicans after deciding to make an independent bid. Only 27% of GOP voters are planning to vote for her on Tuesday, down from 31% from a PPP poll earlier in October. The second reason Murkowski's headed for a loss is that she failed to dominate with independents. She is slightly ahead with them, getting 34% to 32% for McAdams and 31% for Miller. But they're not providing her with a strong base of support the way Democrats are for McAdams and Republicans for Miller.

In a cycle that has seen a lot of strange races, this one may well be the strangest. It would be premature to write off anyone at this point but Miller does look to be the favorite headed into the final stretch.

A PDF document of the poll's internals is here.

Also, remember how just nine days ago Sen. Meghan McCain Lisa Murkowski said that if elected, she would caucus with the GOP?

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) confirmed Friday that she will caucus with the Republicans should she win her write-in bid for a second full term on Nov. 2.

“That’s something that Sen. Murkowski has not made secret. Sen. Murkowski has been a Republican her entire life,” her campaign spokesman Steve Wackowski said, confirming a story published earlier by the Associated Press. “There was never intention for her not to be a Republican.”

But now, it seems, Lisa's Republicanism may have reached it's expiration date, according to this tweet from CNN's Dana Bash:

"Woah. Lisa murkowski just made really clear to our drew griffin in alaska republicans can't count on her to be w them."

Not that we didn't expect this, it's just that we didn't expect it before the election.

Update: What follows flip? Why, flop, of course. Who's running her campaign, Mitt Romney?

- JP

More Quote of the Day Honorable Mention, Part 143

Special "Corrupt Bastards" Edition
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Mark Finkelstein at NewsBusters:

"Calling them 'corrupt bastards,' Sarah Palin has asserted that reporters at a CBS affiliate in Alaska tried to gin up false controversies surrounding the Republican senatorial candidate, Joe Miller."

Sam Foster at Left Coast Rebel:

"This, of course, will probably get ignored by the mainstream media."

Clyde Middleton at Liberty Pundits:

"We have two private individuals employed in the media industry. They are conspiring to fabricate and publicate (great word – made it up) untrue and damaging stories against a candidate for the United States Senate. This violates both professional ethics and federal law."

Drew M at AOSHQ:

"Funny one guys! You know just like when MurCOKEski had a talk radio host thrown off the air for supporting Miller and criticizing Her Royal Cokeness."

Ed Morrissey at Hot Air:

"Needless to say, if this allegation is true, then … we have an epidemic of incompetency when it comes to handling phones. KTVA also has a big scandal on its hands if this is substantiated... Sarah Palin tweeted that the Alaska media are 'corrupt bastards.' Well, she would know after the way they treated her during and after her VP run."

Glenn Reynolds at Instapundit:

"Has the press changed, or is it just easier to get caught now?"

William A. Jacobson at Le·gal In·sur·rec·tion:

"The media is corrupt, and we all know it. It is rare, however, that we get proof. Now we have it... The television station is denying any wrongdoing, claiming the staffers were talking only about what others would do. But the transcript... is to the contrary, and talks about what 'we can do' and 'You have to find that one person...'"

Doug Ross at Director Blue:

"The only real surprise is that they were caught red-handed this time."

Anchorage Activist at Alaska Pride:

"If this is true, it would be no surprise. KTVA has been running a distant second to KTUU Channel 2 in the ratings war in Anchorage, and has been unable to make any headway. So it would not surprise me if they started resorting to sleaze. Until now, Alaska Dispatch has been the only media outlet openly and flagrantly biased against Joe Miller. Maybe the rest of them are starting to come out of the closet as well."

Dan Riehl at Riehl World View:

"At this point, CBS affiliate KTVA appears to be engaged in political activism, not journalism... Their editors must have their prioities, I suppose."

Adrienne Ross at Motivation Truth:

"May this truth exposed send Alaskans to the polls with a determination to vote for the real Joe Miller, rejecting the Left's sick agenda--so sick they joke and laugh about child molesters. Their behavior is disgusting, and certainly not befitting those who should be honored to represent our First Amendment rights. The term 'sick puppies' comes to mind."

Bob Parks at Black&Right:

"Don’t worry. No one at KTVA will be fired over this clear violation of journalist integrity."

Mary Beth at RedState.com:

"Nothing says journalistic integrity like setting up a political candidate with a child molester supporter, does it? Or hoping for that candidate be attacked, for that matter... Oh yes! OF COURSE with the kind of people that will show up for a Miller rally, at least one will be a registered sex offender! HAHAHAHA!! Let’s get that on film…that would just be so awesome! Edward R. Murrow sure would be proud."

Darleen Click at Protein Wisdom:

"We’ve already seen Jerry Brown in the room discussing an ad campaign to call Meg Whitman a 'whore', and now we have 'reporters' at [KTVA] discussing how to take down Joe Miller..."

Steve M at RadioViceOnline:

"They seem to conspire to create stories that will harm the election efforts of Miller including looking for registered sex offenders and child molesters who happen to support Miller’s campaign. Then they suggest staging a Rand Paul-type moment where someone attacks Miller. Not surprising to me. Remember, many journalism students join the profession to make a difference, not to report the news. When they realize they are not making a difference -- in this case electing their preferred choice for Alaska’s next senator -- they start making up the news."

FireAndreaMitchell:

"Looks like the CBS Affiliate in Alaska (KTVA) had a Jerry Brown moment!"

Moneyrunner at The Virginian:

"Remember to vote on November 2. Your vote will repudiate not just the Left in congress, but their allies in the media. The people who you can reach out and touch by contacting their advertisers and telling them that every penny they spend in that paper, that cable or broadcast show is blow against your ever doing business with them. There is no going back; there never is. And that's not a bad thing. We have seen one future and its devastating effect on our lives and on our country. We now have the opportunity to chart a new course, having the experience of what it means to go badly wrong."

Citizen Wells:

"To the far left and the far left mainstream media, the end justifies the means."

Pamela Geller at Atlas Shrugs:

"This is shocking, but it won't make frontpage news anywhere because big media is the problem. For those diehards and numbskulls who still take the mainstream media at their word, shame on you. If this is not the final nail in the coffin, I don't know what would be. What is so unnerving... is the casual, matter-of-fact tone of this obvious debased standard operating procedure. Look, we know the media, CBS, NBC, ABC, and the pathetic cable news channels are in the tank for the leftists, Democrats, socialists, etc. This is not new and goes way back to sixties. But the idea -- to slander, defame and destroy people with the most heinous and vile accusations made out of whole cloth... That's criminal. That's mainstream media."

Tom Blumer at NewsBusters:

"I think McDermott means, 'Sorry I got caught.' This isn't bias. It's direct activist opposition."

- JP

KTVA: Are you going to believe us or your lying ears?

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KTVA has now confirmed that the voice mail recording left on a Joe Miller campaign phone did indeed come from one of their reporters and did include part of a conversation strategizing their coverage, but station management incredibly denies that the CBS affiliate's reporters wanted to slant their coverage of the race for the US Senate in Alaska. Calling the allegations "untrue" and "absurd," KTVA general manager Jerry Bever says that they were merely "preparing for any eventuality." The full KTVA statement is here.

At Hot Air, Ed Morrissey comments:

KTVA’s explanation is absurd. What possible context can they put around the suggestion that they start looking for child molesters at a political rally in order to exploit that for their television coverage? That’s a “potential what-if scenario”? Is this a suggestion that came up in strategy sessions when discussing a McAdams campaign rally?

The only absolution KTVA could have possibly had was showing that this conversation didn’t take place among their staff, but was left on the voicemail by some other people or organization. Even if KTVA approached coverage of every political event in this manner, it would be an embarrassment. In this case, it shows a strong bias against Miller and gives a window into the editorial direction at KTVA.

Basically, KTVA management is asking, "Are you going to believe us or your lying ears?" Wait a minute... didn't CBS already use the "fake but accurate" excuse?

- JP

Sarah Palin: 'Those are corrupt bastards, Chris'

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On 'Fox News Sunday', Sarah Palin gives the lowdown on Alaska's corrupt media:


- JP

Smoking Gun: Anchorage journos caught conspiring against Miller

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For those who don't believe the Alaska media is in collusion with the Murkowski campaign, here is some compelling evidence. The voices of Anchorage journalists, believed to include those of the news director and assignment editor at CBS affiliate KTVA, have been captured on tape openly discussing ways to fabricate stories about Joe Miller, the Palin-backed GOP candidate for the U.S. Senate. A voice mail message, inadvertently left on the cell phone of Miller campaign spokesperson Randy DeSoto, is the smoking gun:

The following is a transcript of a call recorded after CBS Alaska affiliate KTVA called Joe Miller’s Senate campaign spokesperson. The call failed to disconnect properly. It was later authenticated by McDermott, who sent a text to Randy DeSoto stating, “Damn iPhone… I left you a long message. I thought I hung up. Sorry.”


Audio KTVA -
Clearly the reporters were conspiring to set up some type of smear of Joe Miller. With glee, they even cite a recent controversy over an incident involving the Rand Paul campaign, while discussing how they would spread the story via social media after whatever incident they had in mind came off. It also brings to mind another recent episode that ended with Jerry Brown’s California gubernatorial campaign being caught up in controversy when someone from Brown’s camp called Brown’s opponent, Republican Meg Whitman, a “whore.”


This calls into serious question what type of campaign coverage CBS’ KTVA has been providing Alaskans all along, given their reporters’ willingness to conspire against Miller.

Sarah Palin sent the following message about the incident via Twitter:

Corrupt bastards. CBS/media plot against Joe Miller before our Anchorage rally Thurs Kinda'what I've put up w for 2 yrs http://bit.ly/cmbzMr

She also mentioned it this morning during her appearance on Fox News Sunday. The Miller campaign's news release is here. The Vice President and General manager of KTVA can be contacted by email at jbever@ktva.com.

So far, the corrupt Alaska media is ignoring this bombshell of a story.

- JP

Sarah Palin: How low will Lisa go to hold on to power?

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Gov. Palin has some choice words for Sen. Lisa Murkowski via Facebook:

Lisa, are you going to shut down my Facebook page for writing this?

Yesterday, Lisa Murkowski’s hired guns threatened radio host Dan Fagan, and more importantly, the station that airs Fagan’s show, with legal action for allegedly illegal “electioneering.” The station, unlike Murkowski, who is flush with millions of dollars from vested corporate interests, does not have a budget for a legal defense. So it did what any small market station would do when threatened by Beltway lawyers charging $500 to $1000 an hour – they pulled Dan Fagan off the air.

Does all this sound heavy handed? It is. It is an interference with Dan Fagan’s constitutional right to free speech. It is also a shocking indictment against Lisa Murkowski. How low will she go to hold onto power? First, she gets the Division of Elections to change its write-in process – a process that Judge Pfiffner correctly determined had been in place without change for 50 years. She is accepting financial support from federal contractors, an act that is highly questionable and now pending before the FEC. And today, she played her last card. She made it clear that if you disagree with her and encourage others to exercise their civic rights, she’ll take you off the air.

The concept of “electioneering” involves several issues, but typically refers to campaigning at the polls, which is appropriately banned. Under federal law, it can also mean paying for advertising on broadcast media during a federal election cycle, and it requires disclosures if done by groups and corporations. Fagan used satire to mock Murkowski’s write-in efforts and encouraged Alaskans to run as write-in candidates. That is not illegal. That is free speech.

Individuals like Dan Fagan have a fundamental right to speak their minds without threats from the incumbent Senator from Alaska. It is hard to find a constitutional right Americans cherish more than the right to free speech. This was a right Joe Miller, as a decorated combat veteran – a tank commander tested in battle, was willing to die to defend. Dan Fagan has not always agreed with me, but I will gladly defend his right to speak freely on his radio show, which he has often used to criticize me. In fact, Fagan has actually used his radio show to attack and insult me, my husband, my children, and my family in just about every way possible. He was especially insulting to my son, who left for a war zone to defend Fagan’s right to attack our family. But when I was his governor, I never would have dreamed of threatening his right to free speech. I support him in this fight because this D.C. Beltway thuggery, as exemplified by Lisa Murkowski’s latest threat, is ruining our country. The powers that be want ordinary Americans to sit down and shut up and let the ruling class ride us right off the debt cliff we’re heading towards with Obama, Pelosi, and Reid steering the nation’s car. We can’t let them. Now is the time to put aside our past differences and stand up to the establishment powers.

This whole episode confirms again why we need to elect Joe Miller. Lisa, you can sue me if you want (you won’t be the first). But I will not be intimidated from speaking my mind. Your intimidation just empowered us liberty-loving Alaskans. Are you really that out of touch?

- Sarah Palin

Ed Morrissey weighs in here.

- JP

New Joe Miller Ad: 'Don't Be Fooled Again'

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Joe Miller's campaign unveiled a new ad at last night's Change D.C. rally in Anchorage. The ad links Sen. Lisa Murkowski to the policies of the Democrats by alternating clips of President Obama delivering his "Yes, we can," 2008 campaign slogan with shots of Murkowski repeating the same mantra in the speech announcing her write-in bid after losing the GOP primary to Miller:


h/t: Thomas Lamb

- JP

Video: Gov. Palin at the Change DC Rally - Anchorage, 10/28/10

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- JP

Neil Stevens: Joe Miller in third? Not so fast.

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Neil Stevens at RedState.com catches the Wyle E. Coyote left and their media sheep trying to pull a fast one:

Continuing Politico’s apparent strategy of linking to obscure polls that say bad things about Republicans for shock and traffic value in this wave year, the site now reports Joe Miller to be in last place.

For several reasons, one has to discount this poll’s predictiveness of the coming election...

[...]

Only Politico could take word that the NRSC is spending a half million dollars on Miller’s behalf, and turn it into bad news for him. Because seriously, after the Orion poll and now this, what’s next for Politico? Some guy in his basement reporting Barbara Boxer 18 points over Carly Fiorina? Brace for it.

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Not everyone on the left is buying into this sham poll. Nate Silver agrees with Neil (which may be a first), tweeting that the Mudflatulence poll is "sketchy" at best.

- JP

Hey, Alaskans! Want to be a write-in candidate for the U.S. Senate?

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If you’re an Alaska resident and qualified to run for Senate, you can have your name added to the list of write-in candidates for U.S. Senate, just like Lisa Murkowski did. It's easy. Dan Riehl shows you how to get 'er done at Big Jounalism. But hurry, "You must act today!"

According to the socialists, if you overload a government system, then it has to be expanded. By Jove, that works for lists of write-in candidates, too. So expand the list with your name today! Cloward-Piven: It's not just for leftists anymore.

- JP

Joe Miller will host 'Change DC' rally in Anchorage Thursday

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The Republican Party's candidate for the U.S. Senate will host a rally Thursday in Anchorage. Joe Miller's campaign calls it the “Change DC” rally, and Sarah Palin and Todd Palin top the list of special guests that also includes former "Northern Exposure" star Janine Turner.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint, Oklahoma Sen. James Inhofe radio talker Lars Larson and others are scheduled to appear at the rally via teleconferencing.

The event will be held in the Dena’ina Center at 600 W 7th Ave in Anchorage, and they will open the doors at 6 PM Alaska Time. There is no admission fee, but we doubt the Miller campaign will be refusing any donations.

- JP

Sarah Palin eviscerates 'arrogant' Lisa Murkowski

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Monday on Facebook, Gov. Palin blasted Alaska's nasty Sen. Lisa Murkowski for the Vichy Republican's despicable attack on the honor of Joe Miller, a Gulf War veteran who was awarded the Bronze Star:

Lisa’s Gall vs. Miller’s Honor

I have never seen a candidate stoop as low as was seen last night in Alaska’s senatorial debate.

Alaska’s Joe Miller is facing a tough three-way race for U.S. Senate. Though Joe decisively defeated the incumbent Senator in the primary, and though she conceded the race to him, she reneged on her primary vow to not contest the will of the people. She is now running a write-in campaign bankrolled by Beltway special interests.

I’ve seen some pretty ugly campaigning, and what they’re throwing at Joe right now is nasty. Joe’s opponents can’t run on the issues because they’re wrong on them – whether it’s repealing and de-funding Obamacare, fighting against cap-and-tax, protecting our borders, or pushing hard for responsible resource development. They can’t win in a fair fight on the issues, so they sling mud.

We saw all of this play out in the Alaska senatorial debate yesterday. (Watch the video of the debate here.) Joe took a bold stance for Alaska’s future. He called out the sitting Senator’s involvement in racking up the massive debt burden on our children and grandchildren, as well as her plan to barter over the destructive job-killing cap-and-tax legislation. As Joe said, we should focus on trading “earmarks for ANWR, not cap and trade for ANWR.”

The sitting Senator also came out against Arizona’s right to protect its borders. She called for us to “enforce the laws that are currently on the books,” but didn’t seem to understand that that is precisely what Arizona is trying to do to protect itself because the federal government refuses to enforce our laws. Perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised by her lackadaisical attitude to border security when we consider that she has repeatedly voted against funding a border fence and voted in favor of amnesty.

But perhaps the most shocking part of all in this debate was when the incumbent Senator used Joe Miller’s distinguished military service as a means to attack him. Joe Miller graduated from West Point, fought in Desert Storm, and was awarded the Bronze Star for his service to our country. I find it astonishing that a sitting U.S. Senator from Alaska would challenge the honor of a decorated combat veteran. Is it any wonder the audience later booed her when she again challenged Joe Miller’s honor? Please watch the video of this exchange here.

We need to send a message that we’re not going to stand for this arrogant sense of entitlement and business-as-usual Beltway corruption. Joe needs our help to fight back against the influx of special interest money. Please join me in donating any amount you can spare to Joe’s campaign by clicking here. He can lead once he gets to D.C., but he’ll need our help to get to there.

- Sarah Palin

BTW, what Miller was disciplined for at the North Star Borough was voting in an online poll (Along with the link goes the obligatory AOSHQ language alert for families who surf the Web together).

Drew says "let's not pretend this isn't a bad thing," but it's just not. Miller was an employee (part-time) and it was the employer's policy that computers not be used for political purposes. Okay -- he violated the employer's rules... but what he did can barely even be termed "for political processes." He went to four machines because they had different IPs and voted on them all to Freep a meaningless online poll.

This is what Murcszinski has her hopes pinned on?

- JP

Email from Sarah Palin: Everything to Lose

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A Special Message from Sarah Palin:

Dear Fellow Conservative,

This November, voters in Alaska and throughout the country have a choice to make.

Alaska needs a senator who will fight for fiscal sanity, support the brave men and women serving in our military, and have the courage to protect the natural beauty of the Last Frontier. Joe Miller will fight for Alaska's opportunities to develop our natural resources and put Alaskans TO WORK!

They can vote for the status quo – the career politicians who helped get our country in this economic mess – or they can vote for common sense conservatives like Joe Miller.

Fellow conservatives, join me in rallying around Joe! Please support him by making an online donation today.

Conservatives need to rally around Joe Miller. He is the only true conservative in this race.

While Lisa Murkowski and her special interests have nothing to lose in this race, Alaskans and conservatives across the country have everything to lose.

Please donate anything that you can spare to make sure Joe, the true conservative, wins this race.

Joe Miller will fight for the people of Alaska, and this great country. Public service should be an honor not a family dynasty. Show your support for him today.

With an Alaskan heart,

- JP

Joe Miller files FEC complaint against Murkowski supporter AST

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Joe Miller filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission Wednesday over a political action committee that's supporting Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, whom Miller defeated in the state's GOP primary, in her write-in bid to hang on to her seat in the U.S. Senate:

In his complaint, Miller argues that several of the Native regional corporations that have donated to Alaskans Standing Together (AST) are federal contractors, they're barred from participating in politics.

[...]

Alaskans Standing Together has pumped $1 million so far into Murkowski's race. The National Republican Senatorial Committee today and yesterday disclosed it had devoted an additional $311,942 to campaign advertising on Miller's behalf. He got another $54,283 from Sen. Jim DeMint's Senate Conservatives Fund today, for a total of $236,635 from the conservative South Carolina Republican.

A closer look at Murkowski's relationship with AST is here.

- JP